A New Season - by NUS Symphony Orchestra

A New Season – Celebrating 30 Melodious Years
by NUS Symphony Orchestra (NUSSO)
14 Mar 09 (Sat), University Cultural Centre, Hall, 8pm
$15 & $18

Join the NUS Symphony Orchestra for an evening stroll through the seasons, with a perfectly themed repertoire inspired by nature. Bringing the orchestra to new heights on its 30th anniversary is the premiere of a composition by homegrown talent Emily Koh, which is wholly inspired by Man’s relationship with our environment. Infusing interactive digital media into symphonic music, this specially commissioned work is guaranteed to stimulate the senses and elevate the audience experience.



Credit: Image taken from http://www.emilykoh.net


More familiar are Smetana’s Die Moldau and excerpts from Vivaldi’s The Four Seasons. It is, however, Schumann’s “Spring” Symphony No. 1 that promises to be the highlight of this milestone concert – its fanfare signifying spring-awakening, with its longing for a lush springtime and the preparation for the new season.

This concert is part of the NUS Arts Festival 2009.

***
Programme
SMETANA The Moldau from "My Fatherland"
VIVALDI Selections from "The Four Season"
1. Autumn
2. Winter
EMILY KOH About E.C.O.
SCHUMANN Symphony No. 1 in B-flat Major, Op. 38, "Spring"

Couleurs de L'arc-en-Ciel (Colours of the Rainbow)

Here's an invitation:

10 Sep 2008 (Wednesday), 7:00pm
The Plaza, The National Library (The ground floor)
100 Victoria Street
Singapore 188064
Free Admission

Programme:
ROSSINI The Barber of Seville Overture
LLOYD WEBBER Symphonic Reflections
H. ZIMMER The Pirates of the Caribbean
JOHN WILLIAMS Schindler’s List
ROSSINI The Thieving Magpie Overture
A. SILVESTRI Forrest Gump Suite

For more details, please click this link. Do come and support please.

10 Sep 2008: Couleurs de L'arc-en-Ciel

Below are the details of an upcoming performance that the NUS Symphony Orchestra and members of d'Bassists will be involved in. Your support will be greatly appreciated. See you there.

Couleurs de L'arc-en-Ciel (Colours of the Rainbow)
10 September 2008 (Wednesday),
7 p.m.,
The Plaza,
The National Library,
Free admission

An evening with the NUS Symphony Orchestra: young and ardent music lovers bring to life an impressive repertoire, including world-famous works like Rossini's 'The Barber of Seville' and extracts from Steven Spielberg's Oscar-winning 'Schindler's List'.

Miniatures

"Are you intimidated by large orchestra concerts?
Or, have you had enough of radio that you now crave for some 'live' music?

Be treated to an array of bite-sized pieces from classical to contemporary, brought to you by the NUS Symphony Orchestra Chamber Ensembles! We present you Miniatures, where you can see your favourite instruments of the orchestra take the centre-stage!

With a flute duet, an oboe quartet, a percussion ensemble and a bass ensemble among our string quartets, spend a lovely evening enjoying works from Mozart to Gershwin as we bring both the instruments and their players up-close and personal! "

ExxonMobil Campus Concerts
Miniatures
by NUS Symphony Orchestra
(a member of NUS Centre For the Arts)
23 January 2008, Wednesday, 8pm
University Cultural Centre Theatre
Free Admission


Programme includes:
- Blues-Style by Tony Osborne (Double bass trio, Performed by d'Bassists)
- "American" String Quartet No. 12 in F, Op. 96, 1st Mvt, by Antonin Dvořák
- Andante et rondo for two flutes and a piano Op. 25, by Franz Doppler
- Por Una Cabeza – Tango, by Carlos Gardel
- Concertante for Violin, Viola, Mvt 2 & 3, by W. A. Mozart
and more!

A Flame in the Night

NUS Symphony Orchestra proudly presents: A Flame in the Night!

Featuring favourites like Beethoven's 5th Symphony, Haydn's Cello Concerto No. 2 in D and Stravinsky's "Dance of the Inferno" from the Firebird suite, NUS Symphony Orchestra brings you a night of music, passion, fate and life.

Date: 1 Mar 2008
Time: Evening, 8 p.m.,
Venue: Yong Siew Toh Conservatory of Music Concert Hall.
Tickets are available from Gatecrash.

Promotions: Free movie passes for every purchase of four tickets (limited stock, through Gatecrash Hotline and Internet Booking).
Concessions: 15% off for NUS Student. 10% off for NUS Staff and Alumni.

Music Camp 2007

A snapshot from the Quartet Masterclass.
Photo taken by our orchestra's Publication Secretary

The Conducting Masterclass
Photo taken by our orchestra's Publication Secretary

The NUS Symphony Orchestra has had its annual music camp from 11 - 14 Dec 2007. Members of d'Bassists rehearsed works scored for the double bass ensemble during the music camp. WL is one of the newest members of d'Bassists.

On 12 Dec 2007, d'Bassists presented a double bass trio item during the Quartet Masterclass. It seemed implied that the Quartet Masterclass was more intended for strings quartet. Afterall, double bass quartets and double bass trios are comparatively less common than strings quartets.

Anyway, d'Bassists presented Tony Osborne's Blues-Styles. This time, yours truly is playing the first part, XM the second and WL the third. Mr Foo gave the trio some tips during the masterclass. Blues-Styles is written in 4/4 time. He suggested that for this work, we could practise using the metronome, and have the metronome count in twos. The tip is that instead of having the strong beats of the metronome falling on the 1st and 3rd beats, the strong beats should be falling on the 2nd and 4th beats to let the music groove. There were a few other tips. Meantime, many thanks to Mr Foo for his tips.

In the evening of 13 Dec 2007, there was a barbeque. I was absent as I have two classes to attend that evening. Neverthless, I am sure it was fun.

On 14 Dec 2007, our conductor gave a masterclass on conducting. I could not be present due to work commitments, but from the photos that were taken during the Conducting Masterclass, it seems to be interesting and enriching.

Many thanks to the executive committee of the orchestra for organising the music camp.

Happy Birthday Tony Osborne!

10 Nov 2007 is Tony Osborne's 60th birthday! Tony Osborne is an important double bass educationalist and composer who has made significant contributions to the double bass literature. Cheers to more years of great compositions and music by Tony Osborne.

Please find a short youtube video dedicated to Tony Osborne. Wishing him a Happy Birthday!
(Video link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0dGk_euND0A)

Tony Osborne has recently been appointed the Visiting Lecturer in Composition at Bulmershe College, University of Reading. Congratulations to Tony Osborne.

d'Bassists had performed one of Tony Osborne's compositions, Blue Styles, earlier this year. To listen to it, please visit: Tony Osborne's Blues-Style (1981)

Read more about Tony Osborne here: http://www.musiciansgallery.com/start/composers/osborne/tony.htm
http://www.ozzape.com/tony/

Last but not the least, if you would like, you are invited to join in to wish Tony Osborne a Happy Birthday!

Emily the composer

Credit: Image taken from http://www.emilykoh.net

Emily, local composer, has her own website with her own domain name. Find out more about Emily and her endeavours in composing music here: http://www.emilykoh.net

Besides composing, Emily is also an avid double bassist. She is a founding member of d’Bassists.

Pot-luck dinner at our conductor's home

Last evening, there was a pot-luck dinner and gathering at our orchestra's conductor's home. We had a pretty good turn-out last evening.

YJ made lovely apple pies. She told me she uses green apples to make the fillings. QY's muffins were nice treats too. I like the salad made by Charmaine. It was served in a appetising-looking watermelon.

Our conductor also showed us a DVD recording of the 3rd and 4th movement of Mahler's First Symphony, Stravinsky's The Firebird (Infernal dance of King Kashchei) and Hadyn's Cello concerto in D featuring the late Mistislav Rostropovich as the soloist.

In a conversation, our conductor also shared with me how he would like the double bass solo in the third movement of Mahler's First Symphony to be interpreted and played: with many layers of emotions.

At the gathering, our conductor also gave us a demonstration of two of the toy-tanks that he has built. It was fascinating that they actually could move under the control of a remote control, and they can make firing sounds!

It seemed that the night was very young for most of the folks who had came for the gathering. I was one of the first few who had to excuse myself for home at about 10 p.m. As such, I had missed the lantern-carrying activities.


The above photo was taken by Chong Han.

A short coverage: Fantasie Passionée

The performance this afternoon has quite a pretty good turnout. Many thanks to the people who have came to support the performance, and the people who have made the performance possible.

The attire for today's performance was the new orchestra T-shirt.



When the sound-check and technical rehearsal had started, the double basses and a few other instruments were still on the lorry, on their way to the performance venue. As such, I could sneak a bit of time to take a few photographs of the technical rehearsal.

The microphones were very essential for this performance. Without the microphones, the strings would have sounded overpowered by the winds in the outdoor setting.

Transporting the instruments for this performance would certainly require good planning. Take a closer peep at the photographs, and one could see that instruments like the harp, the bass drum, the timpani, and even the saxophones were used for the performance.

After the performance, I heard that a number of the members of the orchestra went for dinner at the nearby Fish & Co. restaurant. A week later, the orchestra will have a gathering at the conductor's place.

15 Sep 07 at National Library Plaza

One of my favourite songs from Phantom of the Opera is "All I ask of you". I have some good memories watching this musical two years ago at Her Majesty's Theatre in London.

Later this afternoon, from 3 p.m. to 4 p.m., the NUS Symphony Orchestra will be performing selections of tunes from Phantom of the Opera at the National Library Plaza, along Victoria Street (nearest MRT station: Bugis), and it is free. Yours truly will be one of the members of the orchestra who will be playing.

Audience to the performance can expect to be treated to selections of tunes from Phantom of the Opera and King and I. If audience would like music that sounds seductive, I am sure that listening to selected movements from Bizet's Carmen Suite No. 1 and Carmen Suite No. 2 will be a pleasant treat.

My personal favourite is Gounod's Faust where I think the double bass parts are simple yet very effective. Faust is one work where the double bass may be playing seemingly easy parts, but it serves a very important role in providing the rhythmic foundation to the orchestra.

We will be having a technical rehearsal from 1.30 p.m. to 2.15 p.m. later this afternoon. I have not played at the National Library Plaza and I suppose it would be helpful to do a sound check before the performance.


Beyond Campus
Fantasie Passionée
By the NUS Symphony Orchestra
(a member of NUS Centre For the Arts)
15 September 2007 (Saturday), 3pm
National Library Plaza (Ground Floor)
100 Victoria Street
Singapore 188064
Free Admission

Her Majesty's Theatre, in London.

Also see: http://dbassists.blogspot.com/2007/08/fantasie-passione.html

The royal fantasy of The King and I, etc

Join the NUS Symphony Orchestra for a relaxing afternoon of flowing melodies from popular opera and theatre. Enjoy music with themes of passion and fantasy, from the fatally seductive Carmen and the deadly passionate Faust, to the royal fantasy of The King and I and the romantic phantom of the opera house.

Established in 1995, the NUS Symphony Orchestra has grown under the baton of Maestro Lim Soon Lee. The orchestra comprises over 80 students, alumni and guest players all passionate about making music.

Beyond Campus
Fantasie Passionée
By the NUS Symphony Orchestra
(a member of NUS Centre For the Arts)
15 September 2007 (Saturday), 3pm
National Library Plaza (Ground Floor)
100 Victoria Street
Singapore 188064
Free Admission
(Nearest MRT station: Bugis)

**
Yes, if you are wondering why d'Bassists haven't been rehearsing for double bass ensemble works, it is because our members are spending time to rehearse for Fantasie Passionée by the NUS Symphony Orchestra.


Also see: http://dbassists.blogspot.com/2007/08/fantasie-passione.html

Emily's in Baltimore

Emily, one of the members of d'Bassists, is now in Baltimore, USA, for the Students' Exchange Programme. She will be there for one semester. Wishing her an enriching and fruitful time there.

In this post, you will find some of the photos that she has posted. For more, please visit her blog: http://www.pinkified.blogspot.com



Photo credit: Emily.

Dinner gathering at Kampong Glam

On 20 Aug 2007, a few double bassists, Dinah, Emily and myself, met for dinner at this part of Singapore that is commonly referred to as Kampong Glam. You can check out this site for more information about Kampong Glam: http://www.malayheritage.org.sg/history.html

Emily would be leaving for US for the students' exchange programme and the dinner was a farewell dinner for her. Here's wishing her a Bon Voyage.

Our original plan was to have dinner at Restoran Tepak Sireh. The restaurant is housed in a historical monument called Gedung Kuning ("Yellow House" in Malay) built more than 150 years ago. However, when we were there, we found out that the restaurant was closed.



Gedung Kuning

In the end, we had dinner at Alaturka instead. This place serves Turkish cuisine. Food and the company were good. Now, let the photos do the talking.







From left to right, top to bottom: Turkish coffee (worth trying), Hummus, Lavash (cheap and good), Musakka (mutton, must try), Spangile (chocolate mousse), Karisik kebab, Sultan's Pleasure.

Alaturka
Turkish & Mediterranean Restaurant
16 Bussorah Street Singapore 199437
Tel/Fax: 62940304

Fantasie Passionée

If you are keen to listen to a Symphony Orchestra play music from King and I, Phantom of the Opera and others, then you may be interested to attend the following free performance:

Beyond Campus
Fantasie Passionée
By the NUS Symphony Orchestra
(a member of NUS Centre For the Arts)
15 September 2007 (Saturday), 3pm
National Library Plaza (Ground Floor)
100 Victoria Street
Singapore 188064
Free Admission



Programme:

1. G. Bizet's Carmen Suite No.1 & Carmen Suite No. 2 (selected movements)
2. C. H. Gounod's Faust (selected movements)
3. Selections from King and I (Lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II, Music by Richard Rodgers, Arranged by Bob Lowden.)
4. Selections from Phantom of the Opera (Music by Andrew Lloyd Webber, Arranged by Calvin Custer)

The performance is about one hour in duration.

Synopsis:

Join the NUS Symphony Orchestra for a relaxing afternoon of flowing melodies from popular opera and theatre. Enjoy music with themes of passion and fantasy, from the fatally seductive Carmen and the deadly passionate Faust, to the royal fantasy of The King and I and the romantic phantom of the opera house.

Established in 1995, the NUS Symphony Orchestra has grown under the baton of Maestro Lim Soon Lee. The orchestra comprises over 80 students, alumni and guest players all passionate about making music.

In conjunction with Expressions, organised by the National Library Board.
***

If you wish to know, a number of the members from d'Bassists will be performing in this performance.



Poster designed by Chua Chong Han.
The photos in this post were taken during NUS Symphony Orchestra's concert held on 16 Mar 2007. Photo credits: Jay.

This post was updated on 6 Sep 2007.

Rehearsals in the past

Many thanks again to the friends and supporters who have attended d'Bassists' performance, Esplanade Presents: At the Concourse: Basso Bravo!

It is time for some nostalgia. So please sit back and enjoy a few of the photos taken from our past rehearsals.

My encounter with L'Orchestre de Contrebasses

Cool music video of L'Orchestre de Contrebasses on stage.

In the year 2000, L'Orchestre de Contrebasses gave two concerts at the Victoria Concert Hall as part of the Singapore Arts Festival 2000. I have had the privilege to be there to listen to them. Their items combine music, visual and stage effects. To get an idea of their original and creative approach to playing the double bass, please check out the above video.

Seven years ago, days before L'Orchestre de Contrebasses gave their concerts in Singapore, it conducted a double bass masterclass at Young Musician's Society auditorium. Almost the all the then-members of the double bass section from our orchestra went for the masterclass. It was an eye-opener for me to listen to them share about their approach to making music on the double bass.

I wonder if anyone reading this blog have attended the masterclass or the concert by L'Orchestre de Contrebasses in year 2000?

Anyway, I have reasons to believe that they have in some way inspired the double bassists from our orchestra, and planted the seeds that would eventually lead to the formation of d'Bassists. If I remember correctly, that year after their concerts, we asked our double bass tutor for music scored for the double bass ensemble and things evolved from there.

Last but not the least, please check out the above video of two items performed by L'Orchestre de Contrebasses. It looks like a cool MTV.

Here's the direct link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1BzaF9TAFlI

**
About L’Orchestre de Contrebasses:

Created in 1981 by Christian Gentet, L’Orchestre de Contrebasses symbolises a most original and promising approach to modern musical creativity...

Please also visit the website of L'Orchestre de Contrebasses: http://www.musicaguild.com/odbc/index.php

The double bass solo in Mahler's First Symphony

Currently, members of d'Bassists are taking a break from ensemble playing. Instead, we are practising orchestral works.

This Wednesday, I was informed by the President of our symphony orchestra that our orchestra would most likely be playing the third and fourth movements of Mahler's First Symphony. There is a double bass solo part in the third movement of the symphony. Our dear tutor gave us a good overview to the double bass solo part this Wednesday during our double bass sectional, and I very much like his demonstrations of the various ways that various conductors would like that double bass solo part to be interpreted.

Coincidentally, one of Jason Heath's posts pointed me to an online article put up by National Symphony Orchestra's Principal Bassist Robert Oppelt. The article covers Robert Oppelt's approach to the double bass solo from the third movement of Mahler's Symphony No. 1 in D Major. Robert Oppelt also provides some historical context for the work.

I find Robert Oppelt's article an insightful read, do check it out here:
My Approach to the Bass Solo in Mahler's First Symphony (Robert Oppelt, June 10, 2007): http://www.robertoppelt.com/page6.html

Please also visit the following URL to catch a short clip of Claudio Abbado rehearsing the third movement of Mahler's First Symphony so as to listen to the principal double bassist play that very double bass solo part: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1lI7icWPfoc

**
About the photo in this post:
Taken during NUS Symphony Orchestra's concert held on 16 Mar 2007.
Photo credits: Jay

**
By the way, Emily has performed the double bass solo from the third movement of Mahler's First Symphony. You can read her accounts by clicking on this link.

Updated: 17 Jun 2007

The composer-in-residence

A composer by training, Emily has been secretly regarded by yours truly as d'Bassists' composer-in-residence. At least among all the members of d'Bassists, Emily has the greatest potential to write decent music compositions. In fact, she has been writing quite a number of interesting compositions that have been performed.

To find out more about Emily's compositions, please visit the following sites:
http://www.emilykoh.blogspot.com
http://komponist.blogspot.com/2006/03/videos.html
http://www.komponist.blogspot.com
http://komponist.blogspot.com/2006/10/emily-koh-composer.html

Do check out the second link to listen to some of her compositions being performed.

Before the show

It takes time to prepare oneself for a performance. Other than practising and more practising, it is also helpful to prepare oneself mentally for the performance. Food is a necessary fuel. As such, d'Bassists met up at Ichiban Boshi located within Esplanade Mall for dinner before the performance, At the Concourse: Basso Bravo!

Sound check started from 6.30 p.m., and thereafter, d'Bassists tried to get whatever little time to rest, gain focus, and get acquainted with the inviting performing space at the Esplanade Concourse.

In the above slide, you will see Superstring - a series of single continuous line drawings by Joshua Yang in collaboration with students of NUS High School of Math and Science. "The concept behind the mode of drawing in a single continuous line ties in with the Superstring Theory which postulates that all matter in the universe is made up of and connected by tiny symmetrical vibrations called strings." (see source)

Emily and her composer-friends, from Les Six du Singapour, will be collaborating with Joshua Yang, to present interesting performances at the Esplanade Concourse. Details are as follow, do check these out (view source):

All Strung Up
Les Six du Singapour in collaboration with Joshua Yang
as part of the Singapore Arts Festival 2007
25 June 2007 // 7.30pm + 8.45pm
Esplanade Concourse


All Strung Out
Les Six du Singapour in collaboration with Joshua Yang
as part of the Singapore Arts Festival 2007
28 June 2007 // 7.30pm + 8.45pm
Esplanade Concourse